Rangers manager Derek McInnes has warned that his side are “playing with fire” because of their shortage of defensive options, with the summer transfer window nearing its close.

McInnes has not won any of his first three matches in charge, drawing once and losing twice, and his squad has been further weakened by injuries suffered in the 2-1 defeat by Hibernian.

Rangers need defensive reinforcements

Left-back Tuur Rommens is expected to miss up to eight weeks with a groin strain, while Youssef Chermiti faces a “significant period of time” out after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury in the same match.

Rangers have added nine players this summer, including defenders Olwethu Makhanya from Philadelphia Union and Ross McCrorie from Bristol City. McInnes nevertheless admitted that further recruitment is required at full-back, on the wings and in attack.

“We don't have an array of options defensively. We don't have a left-footed defender in the building, and we're keen to try and get that resolved as quickly as possible,” McInnes said.

“I do think that with the numbers we've got there, we are playing with fire, and there are a couple of defenders being injured. The good thing is we've got the ability to react to it, and hopefully we can react positively.”

Europa League test awaits

Rangers host Jagiellonia Bialystok in the second leg of their Europa League third-round qualifying tie on Thursday, needing to overturn a 2-1 deficit from the first leg in Poland. The winners will face either Larne or Iberia Tbilisi in the play-off round.

McInnes acknowledged the difficult start but said he remained confident that Rangers could recover quickly.

“It's part of being a manager. There's ups and downs, but it's about coping with difficult times,” he said. “It defines you, and I think it's up to us now to knuckle down, stay calm, work really swiftly in recruitment.”